Discover His heart: He will never abandon us and waits for our return when we are lost
I worked part-time at a fine jewelry store in the mall while in high school. I learned all about diamonds and precious gems, and my little teenage heart went pitter patter whenever a couple came in to select an engagement ring. One Friday evening the store manager asked me to deliver an expensive wedding ring on my way home after work. It seems a couple needed it for their Saturday morning wedding. I was happy to do so but concerned because I was unfamiliar with the area where their home was located.
Sure enough, I got lost and found myself in the seedier part of town. Sixteen-year-old girl, no cell phone back in the dark ages, $3,000 ring, nighttime and on the wrong side of the tracks – not a good scenario. I did what I only knew to do. I prayed for God to help me find my way, and He did.
Searching for landmarks I had passed, I retraced my path back to my store, the one place I knew with certainty had not moved. I studied my directions, discovered the error of my ways and safely delivered the ring to the beaming bridegroom who was waiting for me at the door. I was relieved and thankful that I hadn’t given up in my search, and most grateful for God’s help. David knew something about searching with tenacity and never giving up.
@ Psalm 105
“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” (4) If we find ourselves in the position of needing to search for the Lord, it could only be because we have become lost. I mean, it’s not as though His address has changed over the last billion or so years. His address has never changed. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,’” (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV) so obviously, we are the culprits. Sometimes we think we know a better way to go or have someone or something else we would rather follow. Not good.
David definitely understood walking away from the Lord in a moment of defeat, but he also knew the best recourse was to run back to the Lord in repentance. We don’t need to stay lost! David encouraged us in this Psalm to search for Him, find our way back to Him and receive His strength to remain there. And we can do this with confidence because Jesus also promised, “Everyone who seeks, finds.” (Matthew 7:8)
When we’re traveling and realize we’re lost, we usually look for landmarks – something familiar to us to guide us back to where we belong, and David had that covered too. “Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.” (5) When we remember where we have been with the Lord and where His presence has touched our lives, we will find Him once again. Sometimes it requires going back to the very beginning where our journey started with Him to realize how faithfully He has led us throughout life.
God’s Word will draw us to Him as well as our communion with Him in prayer – definite landmarks for us. And we will also find Him in the place where the impossible becomes possible and where the unknown becomes known because He loves to reveal Himself in this way.
When we are lost or in unfamiliar territory where God seems so very far away, we should “Continually seek Him,” (4) and not be discouraged. He hasn’t moved, left the country or abandoned us. He rewards our efforts to find Him because He loves us so. “Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Found!
Moving Forward: I’m so thankful today for our faithful God who never leaves us and longs for us to return to Him when we are lost.
Tomorrow @ Proverbs 22
Phyllis Benigas 